Brig Gen John Sanford Mason

[mikeejay2]

Brig Gen John Sanford Mason (b 1824 - d 1897) was born in Steubenville, Ohio. After attending local schools, he was admitted to West Point in 1843. From his graduation in 1847 until he retired at age 64, he pursued only a military career. He began service with garrison duty in Tampico during the Mexican War. During the next twelve years he served in forts in the states of Rhode Island and California, before finally being stationed at Fort Vancouver, Washington, D. C. at the outbreak of the civil war. In October 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which he led in the fall and winter campaigns of Western Virginia in the force commanded by General James Shields. He served briefly under McClellan during the Peninsula Campaign at the battle at Harrison’s Landing. He is promoted to brigadier general in Nov 1862 and commands a brigade under Sedgewick’s II Corps of the Right Grand Division at Fredericksburg. In April 1863, Mason was assigned to recruiting duty, first in Ohio, and later in California and Nevada. After the war, he served in a number of posts on the Western Frontier during the 1870’s and the 1880’s. When he retired in 1888, he made his home in Washington, D. C. until his death. He was buried with full military honors in Section 1, Grave 541, of Arlington National Cemetery.

[Gil R.]

Thanks.

[Gil R.]

Here's Mason. My apologies to his descendants for his ratings, but if just a few months after being promoted to brig. gen. he was sent off recruiting I figure he wasn't exactly winning the war single-handedly. (If we add a fort-defense bonus to generals in our expansion pack I'll give him one, which might get his ghost to stop haunting me.)


Brig. Gen. John Sanford Mason (b. 1824, d. 1897). Mason was born in Steubenville, Ohio on August 21, 1824. After attending local schools, he was admitted to West Point in 1843. From his graduation in 1847 until he retired at age 64, he pursued only a military career. He began service with garrison duty in Tampico during the Mexican War. During the next twelve years he served in forts in the states of Rhode Island and California, before finally being stationed at Fort Vancouver, Washington, D. C. at the outbreak of the Civil War. On October 14, 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which he led during the fall and winter campaigns in Western Virginia while serving under Gen. James Shields. Mason served briefly under Gen. George B. McClellan during the Peninsula Campaign at Harrison’s Landing. He was promoted to brigadier general in November 1862 and at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862 commanded a brigade in Gen. John Sedgwick’s II Corps, which was assigned to Gen. Edwin V. Sumner’s Right Grand Division. In April 1863, Mason was assigned to recruiting duty, first in Ohio, and later in California and Nevada. After the war, he served in a number of posts on the Western Frontier during the 1870’s and the 1880’s. When he retired in 1888, he made his home in Washington, D. C. until his death on November 29, 1897. He was buried with full military honors in Section 1, Grave 541, of Arlington National Cemetery. (Bio by Scott Jennings)

Leadership: 2
Tactics: 1
Initiative: 0
Command: 1
Cavalry:

Start date: 44 or 45
“Death” date: 54